Rotatable connector



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WITNESS ATTORNEY Patented June 26, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC PIEBSON, OF WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS; PHILIP H. PIEESON, ADMINIS- TEATOR OF SAID ISAAC PIERSON, DECEASED.

BOTATABLE CONNECTOR.

Application filed April 17, 1919. Serial No. 290,893.

Among the objects of the invention are to prevent the twisting and kinking of such 1 cords by the introduction of a swivel mechanism. Another object of the invention is to so construct such a swivel that it will maintain a constant conductivity therethru.

A further object is to eliminate frictional contact liable to set up extraneous vibrations or noises within the cord conductor. Other objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses.

The telephone cord extending between the 2 telephone instrument and the receiver consists of two cords composed of very fine strands of copper wire twisted into the form of a cable, then properly insulated and surrounded by a braided enclosing webbing. Because of the twisted construction of these cords and the nervous manipulation of the users, they become twisted after considerable use, forming kinks that in time endanger breakage of the cord. Cables having a multiplicity of cords thus joined together may be equ1pped with these swivels without departing the spirit ofthis invention.

In this specification and the annexed drawings, the invention is illustrated in the form considered to be the best, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such form, because it may be embodied in other forms; and it is also to, be understood that in and by the claims following the description, it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied. In the accompanying one sheet ofdrawmgs,

Fig. 1 is adiagrammatic view of a telephone instrument having this invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the swivel mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an end view of one of the contacting members.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a modified cantacting member.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawings, includes an enclosing tubular casing comprising the telescoping casings 1 and 2 adapted to be separably fixed together. Referring to Fig. 2 a swivel for a duplex conductor or cord cable is illustrated. The mercury or substantially spheroidal contact cup 3 surrounded by the insulating annular ring 4 is fixed within the casing 2 by the screw 6. The top 7 of the mercury cup is screwed therein and has a depending annular lip 8, completing the mercury cup that is substantially spheroidal. It is the function of the depending lip 8 to prevent the spilling of the mercury 9 contained within the cup should the same be inverted or laid upon its side.

The antennae or contact members 11 are mounted upon the center electrode 12 and are confined within the mercury cup conforming to the contour thereof before the cap 7 is screwed thereinto. The electrode 12 extends upward thru the lip 8 concentric with the cup and the casing 2 and is fixed within an electrode carrying member or insulator block 13. This block 13 is fixed within the tube 1 1 that has annular ball races formed on the outside thereof for the balls 16 and 17 co-operating with the cups 18 and 19 respectively formed in the upper end of the casing 1 and the neck 21 fixed thereon by the screws 22. The electrode 12 is thus held concentrically rotatable on the axis of the casing and the mercury cup 3. The block 13 is counterbored to receive the plug 28, thru the center of which the cord 24 extends to a contacting button 26 fixed on the end thereof and contacting with the end of the electrode 12. The cup 3 is formed of steel or some substance that will not react to the mercury contained therein and is provided with a binding screw 27 to receive the conducting cord 28. By this construction electric current carried by the conductor 24 passes down thru the electrode 12, thru the antennae 11, submerged in the mercury 9 said thru which the current flows, to the conduct ing mercury cup 3, thence thru the binding screw 27 to the conductor 28. By this construction the conductor 2%, fixed within the plug 13, is swivelled relatively to the casing l.2 and the conductor 28 that rotates therewith. The mercury 9 presents a mobile contacting element that holds the antennae 11 and the mercury cup 3 in constant conductive contact.

The other cord 29 of the incoming cable passes down thru the plug 23 to the contacting ring 31, that rests in contact with the end of the tubular neclr 32 that is provided with the antennae 33, submerged within the mercury 34:, contained within the mercury cup 36 that is held within the annular insulating ring 37 that is fixed within the casing l by the screw 38. The top 39 of the mercury cup is screwed thereinto and is provided with a depending lip 41, having the same function as the lip 8 in retaining the mercury within the cu irrespective of its inclination or inversion. The cup is provided with the upstanding hollow stem 42, interposed between the electrode 12 and the tube 32 from which it is spaced. The antennae 33 are fixed within the block 13, that is swivelled with respect to the casing and the contacting members 33 and 36. The current passing thru the cord 29 is transmitted to the tubular neck 32 and the are tennee 33, from thence thru the mercury 34 to the mercury cup 36, that is provided with the binding screw 43 binding the contactor 44: that passes down thru the insulating ring 4:, thence into the outlet cable at 46. Thus both inlet cords 24 and 29 are capable of a swivel action while maintaining a continuous conductivity with the outlet cable cords 28 and 46, of which they are a continuous part.

aving thus described this invention What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In aiswivel connector an electrode carrying member; a casing; means connecting member and casing; a substantially spheroidal contact cup having an axial opening; means for mounting said cup in said casing; an electrode axially mounted on said electrode carrying ing its free end extending into said cup, said end being provided with contact members following the inner contour of said cup.

2. In a swivel connector an electrode carrying member; a casing; means swivell connecting said member and easing; a su stantially spheroidal contact cup having an axial opening; means for mounting said cup in said casing; an electrode axially mounted on said electrode carrying member and having its free end extending into said cup,

member and hav- 1 aaeaosv said end being provided with contact members following the inner contour of said cup.

3. In a swivel connector an electrode carrying member; a casing; means connecting said member and casing; a plurality of substantially spheroidal contact cups having axial openings therein; means for mounting said cups in said casing; a plurality of electrodes concentrically mounted on said electrode carrying member and having the free ends extending into said cups, said ends being provided with contact members following the inner contour of said cup 4-. In a swivel connector an electrode carrying member; a casing; means swivelly connecting said member and easing; a plurality or" substantially spheroidal contact cups having axial openings therein; means for mounting said cups in said casing; a plurality of electrodes concentrically mounted on said electrode carrying member and having the free ends extending into said cups, said ends being provided with contact members following the inner contour of said cup.

5. In a swivel connector an electrode carrying member; a casing having telescoping ends divisible into separate sections; means connecting said member and a casing section; a plurality of substantially spheroidal contact cups having axial openings therein; means for mounting said cups in each of the divisible parts of said casing; a plurality of electrodes concentrically arranged on said electrode carrying member and having the free ends thereol extending into said cups, said ends being provided with contact members following the inner contour of said cups.

6. In a swivel connector an electrode can rying member; a casing having telescoping ends divisible into separate sections; means swivelly connecting said member and a casing section; a plurality of substantially spheroidal contact cups havin axial openings therein; means for mounting said cups in each of the divisible parts of said casing; a plurality of electrodes concentrically arranged on said electrode carrying member and having the free ends thereof extending into said cups, said ends being provided with contact members following the inner contour of said cups. I

7. In a swivel connector an electrode carrying member; a casing having telescoping ends divisible into separate sections; means swivelly connecting said member and acesing section; a substantially spheroidal contact cup having an axial opening therein; means for mounting said cups in each or the divisible sections of said casing; an elec= trode axially mounted on said electrode car rying member and its end extend ing through said first mentioned cup and into Signed at San Francisco, in the county of sald second mentioned cup; an electrode con- San Francisco and State of California, this centricaily mounted on said electrode cartenth day of April, 1919.

rying member and having its free end ex- ISAAC PIERSON. 5 tendlng into said first mentioned cup, said Witnesses:

' ends being provided with contact members PHILIP H. PIERsoN,

following the inner contour of said cup. FLORA H. PERSON. 

